[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 22, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN HONOR OF SISTER CATHERINE PINKERTON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 2010

  Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of 
Sister Catherine Pinkerton, whose unwavering advocacy on behalf of 
numerous social justice issues provides strength, hope and a powerful 
voice to the most vulnerable citizens of our society.
  Sister Catherine's life and work continues to reflect a lifelong 
passion for raising the lives of others through teaching, lobbying and 
organizing. She began turning her faith into action early on, as a 
student at St. Joseph Academy high school in Cleveland, where she 
volunteered to assist the poor and disadvantaged at the Dorothy Day 
Catholic House of Hospitality. After graduating from St. Joseph, she 
entered the Sisters of St. Joseph convent in Cleveland, where she began 
her journey as a Sister in the Roman Catholic faith. She taught at St. 
Joseph's, and eventually became an administrator within the Order. 
Sister Catherine was soon elected President of the St. Joseph 
community. Her focus on issues of poverty, racism, sexism and other 
social justice issues, combined with her strong intellect and excellent 
leadership skills, guided her through numerous trips to Washington DC, 
fervently lobbying for legislation to elevate and empower women, 
minorities and the poor.
  On Capitol Hill, Sister Catherine's work focused on fair housing, 
health care reform, civil rights initiatives, and family and medical 
leave legislation. In meeting rooms and on the House floor, Sister 
Catherine promoted NETWORK--a women-led Catholic social justice lobby 
that collects and analyzes critical data about how our Nation's laws 
affect the poor and disenfranchised. She also made numerous trips to 
Rome, as the official representative of sisters in the United States. 
Sister Catherine's work has been recognized with numerous local and 
national honors. She was awarded the Centennial Education Medal by John 
Carroll University; named as Cleveland's 100 Most Influential Women; 
and, she was honored by the National Institute of Women with the 
Today's Woman of the Year Award.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in honor and recognition of Sister 
Catherine Pinkerton, whose faith in action continues to give a voice to 
the silent, strength to the weak, and power to the powerless--thereby 
making our Cleveland community, our Nation, and our world, a better 
place.

                          ____________________